FRESH plans for student housing in West Oxford have raised concerns one of Oxford’s green spaces is being “urbanised”.

Proposals have been submitted for a three-storey building with nine flats on a site in Roger Dudman Way.

They are close to the Castle Mill development which caused uproar after it was claimed to have blocked off the views of Oxford’s “dreaming spires” from Port Meadow.

Now similar concerns have been raised about the new development, which includes a footbridge. Residents are objecting on the grounds it will damage wildlife.

Abbey Road resident Ian Clarke said: “I have lived around this area for over 50 years and have seen it changing dramatically for the worse.

“Where I used to take my children to admire the wildlife all we see now is more and more ugly student accommodation.”

Alexandra Road resident Alison Mathias agreed: “The development, fronting on to Fiddlers’ Island, amounts to urbanisation of this stretch of the Thames countryside which is a rural area populated with heron and woodpeckers.

“The footbridge is to be made permanent and moved further south towards the wet area at the extreme south of the island: until recently this has been an important unofficial wildlife preserve, allowed to flood and flower as it will.”

The application is from planning consultancy Asset Max, based in Cowley Road.

The proposed development is near the Thames Path national trail, south of the Castle Mill development, and is also close to Port Meadow and Cripley Meadow.

Sushila Dhall, who has been campaigning against the Castle Mill buildings, said: “This stretch of the Thames, beautiful countryside until a few years ago, should be protected. “It is a wildlife area, and very beautiful with trees, rushes and a sense of calm.”

The developer would not comment, but the application states: “Currently the site is mostly empty and is composed of shingle stones, a few trees and thick riverbank flora which is unruly and unkempt.

“This proposal represents a sensible, well-balanced use of the site which positively responds to the context and is inclusive of the proposed footbridge at this location.”

A decision on the application is expected to be made by officers at Oxford City Council.

Oxford University has built accommodation for 312 graduate students over four and five storeys on former railway land near Oxford station.

But it has sparked a significant amount of controversy in the last six months.

Campaigners want to see the buildings lowered by two storeys to restore views.

Last September Oxford University ancient history professor Sir Fergus Millar described the impact on views from Port Meadow as “scandalous”, and a month later people signed an online petition opposing the development.

The planning application is not connected to the university.